Recidivism Among Juvenile Offenders in New York City, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 225826
• Author(s): Marian Gewitz; Elyse J. Revere
• Date Published: April 2007
• Length: 55 pages
• Corporate Author: New York City Criminal Justice Agency, Inc
• Sale Source: New York City Criminal Justice Agency, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study expands on previous research conducted on juvenile offenders in two boroughs in New York City and compared juvenile offender cases and case processing in all five boroughs in New York City and explored factors associated with the elapsed time at risk to the first violent felony arrest.

Abstract

Marked borough differences are documented in the processing of juvenile offender cases in the supreme courts across the five boroughs of New York City. Rearrest rates are high. The data suggest that juveniles processed in Manhattan were less likely to be rearrested shortly after their initial release than were juveniles processed in other boroughs, although the overall rearrest rate was lower for Manhattan juveniles. Taken together, the findings of the rearrest models suggest that the way cases were processed in Manhattan supreme court with its emphasis on placement programs under court supervision might not only delay the initial rearrest but also might reduce the likelihood of rearrest for the most serious offenses. Research limitations are presented and discussed. Previously the New York City, Criminal Justice Agency, Inc., conducted research on juveniles processed in the adult courts in the City compared to the juveniles processed in the supreme court in Manhattan and those in the supreme court of Queens. Findings showed the two boroughs similar in defendant characteristics and arrest and disposition charges. In addition, the research showed virtually no difference between the boroughs in the proportion of juveniles rearrested during or after the completion of the study case. This research expanded this data in two ways: (1) research on juvenile offender cases and case processing was extended to all five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island); and (2) a second measure of recidivism was added and tracked the juveniles’ time at risk to a violent felony offense (first measure examined initial rearrest ranging from narcotics possession and trespass charges to robbery, assault, and homicide). Figures, exhibits, and appendixes